Carry at work

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knuckles

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I am sure this has been dicussed at some point, but I can't find a thread on it. Does anyone know where it is? If not, anyone care to comment on if they carry at work? If so, are doing it against company policy anyway? I am getting ready to start carrying and just wanted to know everyones thoughts.
 
If company policy is against carry at work (inside the building), I wouldn't. Sooner or later some co-worker will figure it out and there are always good odds that the word gets out via gossip, if not from outright snitching.

Generally, employers aren't activist enough in any hostility against guns to go searching cars in parking lots. And, it's not all that expensive to have a combination-lock or keypad-lock type of small pistol safe in the trunk, bolted to the floor.

Use common sense...

Art
 
I work for a very conservative financial institution. They have a zero tolerance policy for weapons. Even their cafeteria silverware are dull. I got the stinkeye once for using my Victorinox Swiss Army knife to open a UPS package (And it's a Spartan, not even the big one!). Due to the exact job I perform I am subject to personal search at the whim of security or management when entering or exiting my work area. I am also subject to a vehicle search if desired. These were conditions of my employment. I accepted them. I therefore cannot carry at work, or even on company property. Although the chances are slim that I would ever have a vehicle CCW discovered (vehicle searches are rare and usually when probable cause exists and are done by city PD in response to specific circumstances!) I personally like the idea that if I am ever questioned regarding this I can say truthfully that I have never brought any sort of weapon or firearm onto company property.

Now, there were some times I parked in the doctor's office lot across the street. But let's not discuss that.
 
I'm now retired, so "work" is a four-lettered word to me. However, before I retired, I carried EVERY day at work for the 31 years that I was a...LEO!

I'm bringing this up for a purpose! During my years as a LEO, I worked with hundreds of reserve police officers. They came from all walks of life and quite a variety of full-time jobs. One of the reserves that I worked with was an auto mechanic. Another was a real estate broker. The one that was somewhat odd was a multi-millionaire corporate lawyer! A few that I worked with had aspirations of becoming full-time LEO's, but wanted to "get their feet wet" before taking the big step. Three of the reserves that I worked with during the start of my career not only went full-time, they out-ranked me when I retired!

One particular reserve police officer that I worked with was almost like a "recruiter" for the reserve officer program. He talked several of his full-time co-workers into becoming reserves! They all worked at an electronics firm. The "recruiter" told me that, since he and several of his co-workers were reserve police officers, their somewhat anti-gun boss had a change of heart, and not only "allowed" those reserves to carry while at work, he was "glad" to have them armed! In a way, I guess that those employees were given a "special privelege" of sorts, but it was due to their having gone through the reserve police officer training AND being issued a police badge (CCW permitees only hold a piece of paper or I.D. card).

Lastly, I need to say that the reserve police officer "thing" might not be what you want. You would be required to work a couple of 8-hour shifts per month (in most agencies), and have to attend training classes. On the other hand, most police agencies ISSUE firearms and all related equipment to reserve police officers! The police academy training and "advanced" training that they have to attend is somewhat of a "bonus", for it is all FREE (unlike having to pay for civilian training classes in "tactics", etc.). Another "draw-back", per se, is that, in case of a major "SHTF" situation, reserve police officers will PROBABLY be called out for duty. I was an LAPD officer, and when the "Rodney King riot" broke out, the reserve officers were called to duty. Believe it or not, but there was about a 99% show-up of the reserves! If they had to work more than their required 16-hours per month, they were paid FULL-TIME for the additional hours.
 
I wouldn't want to be in a situation where I had to use lethal force and in court my employer testified that I was not supposed to be carrying..
 
For a CHL person in an anti-gun workplace: Point out to the bosses, as politely as you can, that CHL folks have a track record of no legal problems. They are checked out by the police and NCIC. They have demonstrated proficiency with their firearm. They at least know the rudiments of the pertinent laws and restrictions upon use of deadly force.

In Texas, I like to point out to nervous souls that CHL folks have anger management and non-violent resolution of conflicts as part of the training. Can the anti-gunner say the same? :)

For last, I point out that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Texas Department of Public Safety have publicly stated that they are pleased with the CHL programs of their states. They have publicly stated that CHL people are among the least of any law enforcement problem.

IOW, at least make a polite effort to change company policy.

Art
 
I wouldn't want to be in a situation where I had to use lethal force and in court my employer testified that I was not supposed to be carrying..
Click to expand...

Sooo...considering that if you had to use lethal force, it was because your LIFE was in danger, you'd rather be....dead?

:scrutiny:

Also, two words. Laptop bags
 
Umm...I am not sure that I inferred that I wanted to be a LEO at all. But that's interesting to know. I honestly didn't realize that they had LEO reserves...

My deal at work is that, they don't have a policy specifically prohibiting it OR allowing it. I guess in the lack of a policy local law applies?

EDITed for my absolutely horrible grammar!
 
Considering I work in a secure government facility in DC and have restrictions that make Evan Price's employer look liberal in comparison, no carry for me (squared), period. (And since I believe that property rights are the backbone of western civilization, I don't have an issue with employer's setting the rules they want followed on thier property-they own it after all-and employees get to choose how they want to deal accordingly.)

Oldtimer, I would (have) jumped at a chance of being a reserve officer if there were any programs in my area that sound even close to what you stated. The most I've ever seen here in the DC area is a "reserve" program that seems to be more of manning booths and maybe taking down some paperwork or potentially directing traffic(!)...all unarmed, and the other's "civilian police academy" is a short public relations initiative to show the public what that agency is like on the other side...nothing else.

Oh well.

C-
 
We don't exactly have a "police presence" at work, but we do have the regular LEO customer and DEA agent out to get evidence against a meth-head or pill dealer.

And NC is a "required to notify LEO if you are carrying" state.

Poo-pooing company policy is one thing, but risking a revocation of CCW is another!

Even if the company allowed employee carry, it wouldn't last long. I follow the law to the letter, I'm bound to freak out a nosy customer who overhears my disclosure!

For now I'm happy that we are NOT posted, so customers can carry and the bad guys should at least worry that we do too! :cool:
 
"Any person who has a concealed handgun permit...shall carry the permit together with valid identification whenever the person is carrying a concealed handgun, shall disclose to any law enforcement officer that the person holds a valid permit and is carrying a concealed handgun when approached or addressed by the officer, and shall display both the permit and the proper identification upon the request of a law enforcement officer."
(§ 14-415.11(a))

That's my understanding anyway, if he speaks to me I have to tell him I have a carry permit and am carrying?
 
I don't have to worry about this one - my boss bought me a blackpowder pistol as a birthday gift this year. I know where he stands on carrying. :)
 
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